It’s official! Roberto Martinez has been sacked by Everton after three years of being in charge, following the 3-0 defeat at the Stadium of Light by relegation-threatened Sunderland. The defeat sees Everton languishing in 12th in the league table and has guaranteed survival for the Black Cats – at the expense of Newcastle United and Norwich City.
The club is guaranteed to finish with their lowest point tally since 1981 and have won merely five home games in the league this season.
Roberto Martinez is known for his “overly optimistic” press conferences and statements, and here we take a look at some of the best quotes by the Spaniard:
1. "I will get you into the Champions League"
Everton’s chairman Bill Kenwright revealed them as the first words of Martinez when he was interviewed to succeed David Moyes. This promise proved a little too much to follow with for the 42-year-old Spanish manager and gave only false hopes to the Toffees’ faithful.
Everton did come close to bagging a qualifying berth, finishing fifth in the 2013/14 season, his first in charge, but could never make it all the way.
2. “For me Gareth Barry is one of the best English players ever”
Martinez was full of praise for midfielder Gareth Barry after their 2-1 first leg semi-final win against Manchester City in the Capital One Cup. Following the victory, where Barry provided the assist for the winner, he lauded him by saying “Gareth Barry is one of those players that gets underrated. For me the big reason why we have so many effective young players is there are leaders in the mould of Gareth Barry.”
He also added “I have never seen a player with the incredible professionalism, standards and so level-headed as Gareth Barry. For me, he is one of the best English players ever.”
3. “I wouldn’t sell him for any money in the current market.”
This was said for none other than former Manchester United midfielder Tom Cleverley.
After an impressive 3-0 triumph away to Stoke at the Brittania Stadium, where Cleverley set up two goals, Martinez said “I think you do not have a better English player. Technically, he is as good as you get. The way he executes, how he reads the game, for me he is one of the most sensational you are going to see in Premier League history. I wouldn’t sell him for any money in the current market.”
4. “For me he’s the best footballing centre-half in Europe”
John Stones came to face heavy criticism for his decision making and attempts to take on players in his own defensive half and Martinez was quick to jump to his defence, in his typical exaggerating style, he said: “He’s an out and out defender and then, for me, he’s the best footballing centre-half in Europe, so he’s allowed to make his own decisions.”
The Toffees’ ex-manager also went on to warn the critics from putting pressure on his developing players and said that players like Stones, Ross Barkley, Romelu Lukaku and Gerard Deulofeu would probably be worth £260million in a span of 5 years.
5. “Phenomenal”
This has been the 42-year old’s favourite quote throughout his stay at the Merseyside club, from describing Arouna Kone’s return from injury as “phenomenal” in November 2015 to Pep Guardiola’s announcement as the next Manchester City manager as a “phenomenal sign” in January.
He also described Everton as a “phenomenal and passionate football club” at his unveiling as manager and labelled their academy as “phenomenal” in July 2013.
If not for their performance under the Spanish manager, Everton fans would surely remember Roberto Martinez for his overwhelming statements and press conferences.
